Dispensing tube



DISPENSING TUBE Filed Aug. 9, 1.927

I v F Patented Oct. 1, 1929 BARBIE A. BELL, OF BALA-GYNWYD, PENNSYLVANIA DISPENSING TUBE Application filed August 9, 1927. Serial No. 211,859.

My invention relates to collapsible dispensing tubes for use in dispensing tooth paste, shaving cream, cosmetics, shoe paste, printing inks or an other commodity of suitable consistency by partially collapsing the containing tubes.

A purpose of.my invention is to avoid the need for removing the cap of a collapsible dispensing tube in order to obtain delivery from the tube.

A further purpose is to deliver out of a dispensing tube laterally from a valved cap, spring-pressing toward closure and opening for dispensing from the tube by the outward pressure of the contents of the tube exerted by finger pressure partially collapsing the tube. I preferably accommodate the requisite pressure for collapsing the tube to that easily exerted by fingers of the user by making the area of contact of the paste within the tube upon the movable valve member large as compared to the usual outlet area of dlspensing tubes. The movable member of the cap may be inside or outside of the non-movable memher.

A further purpose is to provide a valved cap unit adapted to replace the present nonvalved screw caps of different charged commercial dispensing tubes and adapted to open for delivery when a user of the tube squeezes the tube and to automatically close when the collapsing pressure upon the tube is relieved.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have elected to show a few only of the many forms of my invention, selecting forms that are practical and efficient in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, and which well illustrate the principles of my invention.

Figures 1 and 2 are fragmentary longitudinal front and side. elevations respectively, partly sectioned, showing a dispensing tube and valved cap embodying one form of my invention, the section on-Figure 1 corresponding to the line 1-1 of Figure 2, and section on Figure 2 to the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

disadvantage and Figures 4' and 5 are fragmentary longitudinal sections of other forms.

Like numerals refer to like parts in all figures.

Describing in illustration and not in limitation and referring to the drawings The use of collapsing tubes has hitherto been subject to the necessity for removing and subsequently replacing the tube cap each time the tube is used.

My invention is designed to overcome this rovides a dispensing valved cap, having t e movable member inside or outside of a non-movable member rigldly fastened to the delivery end of the tube. 6 The movable member moves and opens the tubes to deliver under fluid pressure inside the tube, obtained by partially collapsing the tube, and gives delivery through a lateral outlet of the cap as long as the tube is squeezed by a user and then automatically moves into posltion for closure as soon as this squeezing ceases.

In the form shown in Figures'l to 3 a ca member 10 is rigidly fastened over the delivery end 11 of a collapsible dispensing tube 12 containing material 13 adapted to flow under moderate pressure.

The cap member is internally cylindrical and 1s alined with and has internally approxi mately the same bore as the cylindrical delivery end 11 of the tube. It is vented at the top at 14 and a valve member 15, movable axially of the cap member, circumferentiall fits and seals agalnst the inside of the cylinder formed by the cap member 10 andthe tube end 11, having an upper portion inside the cap and a lower portion normally inside the delivery end of the tube.

The bottom of the cap is internally enlarged at 16 to-thread over the delivery end of the tube and is provided with a lateral disenslng perforation 1.7 shown oval in contour ut which will have any desired shape according to the desired sectional sha e of the discharging stream. A correspon in perforation 18 longitudinally alined wit h the perforation 17 is provided in the wall of the movable valve member, and a spring 19 inside the cap between the bottom of the cap and the top of the valve member presses the valve member toward the body of the tube to a position at which the perforations l7 and 18 are out of radial line and therefore sealed.

The outer end of the valve member is preferably formed with an axial inward depression at 2*.) to provide a centering seat for the spring 19 and also to provide room for a longer spring for a given length of the cap.

with respect to the tube is determined by the slot and pin connection at 22 upon opposite sides of the tube and the angular position of the cap with respect to the tube is determined by engagement between cooperatmg stops 23 and 21 mounted respectively upon the tube and cap. which come into contact when the cap is screwed home.

Fluid pressure inside the tube, obtained by partially collapsing thetube' in the usual way, forces the piston valve member outwardly into a position at which the perforation 18 of the valve registers with the perforation 17 of the cap, permitting delivery through both perforations. The valve member isprevented from further outward movement by the release of pressure when fluid discharge takes place but may be checked positively by its engagement at 25 against the top of the lid if this be desired.

As soon as the collapsing force upon the tube is relieved the spring above the valve member forces the valve back into its closure position, that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, returning to the tube part of the tube content within the extended cap.

I have had no difiiculty with trapping of air between the parts and therefore regard protection from this as an excess of caution. Some air trapping may even be desirable. Where the closeness of the fit of the valve causes air trapping it may be relieved by providing an air vent 14 in the top of the In the form of Figures 1 to 3 the lower end of the valve member fits inside the delivery end of the tube. It sometimes happens that the delivery ends ofrdispensing tubes are made very small and moreover it is sometimes inconvenient to obtain an exact registry of alinement and size between the inside bores of the tube andcap. In Figures 4 and 5 the valve cap forms a removable unit adapted to use with delivery tube ends of variant bores eliminating this difficulty.

In the form of Figure 4, the piston valve member may conveniently seat when in its closed position upon the delivery end '11 and stop preferably with discharge.

There is in this form no necessity for any circumferential registry between the perforation 17 in the side of the cap and the movable valve, delivery taking place. from underneath the valve equally well at all angular positions of the valve with respect to the cap;

The movable member comprises a piston recessed downwardly on its upper side, fitting inside the cylindrical screw cap 15. It is spring-pressed downwardly by the spring 19 toward its seat upon the end of the tube.

The delivery perforation 17 in the screw cap is placed so as to be closed when the valve is resting on its seat. The downward recessing of the piston permits additional length of spiral spring and maintains the spring in alignment.

Preferably the outlet bore of the tube is larger'than is usual with the ordinary commercial dispensing tubes in order to make the delivery from the tube more instantaneously responsive to applied squeezing pres sure upon the tube. v

In the forms of Figures 1 and 4 the movable member of the valve is inside a stationary cap.

In Figure 5,however, I show a very advantageous form in which the movable member 27 is outside the stationary member 28 rigidly fastened (screwed) to the delivery end of the dispensing tube.

The cylindrical stationary member 28 screws or fastens over the outside of the delivery end of the tube and is open and enlarged at its outer end at 30. The inner end of the enlargement forms an inwardly directed shoulder 31 which supports the outer end of a spiral spring 19 surrounding the inner portion of the member 28.

The movable member 27 comprises a cylindrical cap over the open end of the member 28, fitting and sealing around the enlargement 30 of the member 28. It is perforated at 17 near its outer end to pass the discharge from the tube and has an inwardly directed flange 32 to support the inner end of the spring 19 which is thus compressed between the opposing circumferential shoulders 31 and 32.

While the stationary member 28 is illustrated as screwing to the delivery end of any suitable dispensing tube it will be seen that this member may, where desired, be made initially an integral part of the delivery end of the tube, and where the tube and cap are manufactured together this will have some advantages.

It will be obvious that in all of the forms shown the valved cap comprises two members of which one is movable and the other fastens to the delivery end of the tube. In each case there is a lateral perforation in the outer member. In each case the movable member is spring-pressed toward a position of closure and when moving toward closure reduces the effective volume of the tube.

The spring is a spiral spring surrounding the axis of the delivery end of the tube and may be inside or outside of the fixed member. lVhere the sprin is inside the movable member is of piston orm and preferably inwardly recessed from its outer end to permit the use of longer springs.

My discharge device is particularly desirable in dealing with such pastes and viscous liquids as printing inks, rubber cements, etc., which are affected by oxygen and which are fully protected from deterioration through oxidation at all times. The tube is handled but once, closing automatically. There is no cap to remove and none to replace.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copyin the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A valved cap for the delivery end of a dispensing tube, comprising an external cap member rigidly fastened to the delivery end of the tube and having a lateral perforation beyond the end of the tube and near thereto, a movable piston member inside the cap fitting and sealing theinterior surface thereof and normally closing the delivery end of the tube and adapted to be moved outwardly to uncover the lateral opening in the cap member, a spiral sprin inside the cap member pressing the movable valve member in wardly from an outer position at which it does not close the opening to an inner position to close the opening, the piston member being outwardly cupped to permit it to receive a lon er spiral spring and cooperating guide mem ers between the cap and the piston member permitting free longitudinal movement between and maintaining the piston member and cap against excessive lateral movement.

2. In a collapsible dis ensing tube having a delivery end, a movab e piston member internally fitting the delivery end and having a lateral perforation, a cap member rigidly fastened over the end of the delivery tube circumferentially fitting the outside of the piston member and having an opening axially alined with the opening in the valved member and registering therewith when the movable member is in an outward position, a spiral spring inside the cap inwardly pressing the movable member and pin and V- notch cooperating guides between the piston member and cap permitting relative movement axially andaligning the two circumferentially with retractive movement of the piston.

3. In a collapsible dispensing tube having a delivery end, a valve member internally fitting and sealing the delivery end having a lateral perforation and an outwardly extending portion extending beyond the end, a cap fastened to the end of the tube surrounding, circumferentially fitting and extending outwardly beyond the valve member and having a lateral perforation, cooperating connections respectively from the tube to the valve member and from the tube to the cap for alining the valve and cap members so as to aline their openings to register with one another when the valve member is in its inward position, and a spiral spring inside the cap inwardly pressing the valve member. HARRIE A. BELL. 

